Economy: Emergence of Market Economy in Kurdistan
A prominent area of early investment since 2006 has been in the lucrative real estate sector.
imported 2024-03-17 17:43:07
A prominent area of early investment since 2006 has been in the lucrative real estate sector.
At the top of the list driving the region’s economy is Kurdistan’s gas and oil reserves, estimated respectively at 100-200 trillion cubic feet and 45 billion barrels, with possibly another 25 billion potential barrels in unproven reserve.
The Minister reveals his greatest worries and also plans in order to improve the state of infrastructure in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Traditionally, family-owned conglomerates form the back-bone of any emerging economies, especially in the Middle East. Likewise, Kurdistan is rife with―often―family-owned large diversified conglomerates.The list below provides an overview of the most important diversified conglomerates that are crucial to know when doing business in Iraq’s Kurdistan.
According to the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications, there are currently 21 companies providing internet services in Kurdistan. The sector is divided into fixed line operators (that lease out their network but at the same time offer internet services), companies selling the internet, wireless internet service providers (mobile and WiMax) and satellite ISPs.
Listed as the third largest computer market within the Gulf region, Kuwait is expected to have favorable IT conditions this year. According to the Business Monitor “the country is projected to spend over $900 million in 2012 within the IT sector alone, which is a 9% increase from previous years. Due to high oil revenue, Kuwait is one of the most advanced IT states in the region.”
There are 12 foreign banks present in Iraqi banking sector. Most of the banks are from Lebanon, followed by banks from the Gulf and Turkey.
There are currently 11 Islamic banks operating in Iraq. According to the World Bank statement from 2010, “the Islamic banking activities in Iraq started in 1993, where the Iraqi Islamic Bank for Investment and Development was established as the first Iraqi Islamic bank. Islamic banks now have 83 branches and 1504 employees, with the ratio of branches and employees of the Islamic banks to that of all private banks being broadly similar at 19 percent and 17 percent.
The two largest banks in Iraq is Trade Bank (Public) and North Bank (Private). View the latest list of the largest banks in Iraq.
José Carlos Lyra de Andrade, President of FIEA (Alagoas State Federation of Industries)
The President of FIEA, José Carlos Lyra de Andrade, talks about the industry sector in Alagoas, mentioning the importance of the sector for the state’s economy, the potentials and challenges of the industry, and also some investment opportunities.